Electric Meters

An electric meter measures kilowatt hours. A kilowatt hour (or kWh) is equal to 1,000 watts of electric energy used in one hour. One 100-watt bulb burning for 10 hours equals one kWh.

Automated Meter Reading (AMR)

SCE&G uses Automated Meter Reading (AMR) for residential meters and many business meters, allowing our employees to collect information either by driving or walking near meters via a secure radio frequency. Then readings are transferred to the billing department.

How to read your electric meter:

Your electric meter is digital. Numbers are read from left to right. To find out the number of kilowatt hours used during a given amount of time, take two readings, then subtract the earlier from the more recent.

The meters will alternately flash all 8s and then the cumulative kWh reading. The flashing 8s is a display test that has no effect on the meter. When the meter reaches 99999, it will start over again at 00000.

What if my electric meter base is damaged?

After storms, we will work as quickly as possible to restore your power, but if anything from the weatherhead down to your meter base is damaged, an electrician must repair it before we can reconnect your power.

Having any required repairs completed before crews arrive at your home can save time in the restoration of power.

Natural Gas Meters

A gas meter measures the amount of natural gas in cubic feet. A cubic foot of natural gas contains approximately 1,000 BTUs of heat, which is the equivalent of burning 1,000 kitchen matches.

How to read your natural gas meter:

Your natural gas meter has four or five dials, with clockwise numbering on some dials and counterclockwise on others. Write down the smaller number if the pointer is between two numbers, except between nine and zero -- in this case, zero is considered 10, so nine would be the correct reading. If the pointer is on a number, look at the dial at the right. If that pointer has not passed zero, write down the smaller number. The reading on the example below is 5429.

To find out the cubic feet used during a given amount of time, take two readings, then subtract the earlier from the more recent.